Arsenal made Champions League history in stunning stat during victory over Lens

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Arsenal were at their very best as they beat RC Lens 6-0 to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages as group winners.

An electric first half at the Emirates saw Arsenal go 4-0 up within half an hour, before heading into the break 5-0 up.

Mikel Arteta named a strong starting XI for tonight’s game, knowing that a win would confirm Arsenal’s place as group winners, and with PSV Eindhoven winning in the early kick-off, there was extra incentive to perform.

Arsenal have been criticised for not finding their feet in attack, but were back to their fluid best, and broke a number of records during the game.

Arsenal break Champions League record

It has now emerged that Arsenal’s first-half performance was so good that it saw the Gunners make Champions League history.

Arsenal had five different scorers in the first half, and Opta have confirmed that it is the first time that a team has ever had at least five different players score in the first half of a match in the Champions League.

Kai Havertz opened the scoring, before Gabriel Jesus doubled the lead, and Arsenal ran riot. Bukayo Saka added a third, before Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard gave the home side a huge lead heading into the interval.

Arsenal’s perfect first-half

Arteta will have been delighted with what he saw in the first half. The entire attacking five were on the scoresheet, with the entire front three ending the half with a goal and an assist each.

Havertz, fresh from his winner against Brentford on the weekend, was full of confidence as he gave his side the lead, tapping in from Jesus’ headed assist.

Jesus then showed his class in the Champions League again with a well-taken goal, before Saka bundled the ball in after a rebound fell to him.

Takehiro Tomiyasu then pulled off two sensational assists, with a cross-field pass finding Martinelli, who cut inside and finished well, before another looped ball dropped to Odegaard, who fired in a superb volley on the stroke of half-time.

The first half was one of the strongest Arsenal have had in years, and it allowed them to take the foot off the gas in the second period, with two substitutes coming on at half-time.

Arsenal are set to face Wolves on Saturday, and they will hope they can continue their blistering form in front of goal that they showed tonight.